Alright, so I’ve been playing a ton of MLB The Show 23 lately, and one feature I’ve really been digging into is the Player Lock mode. It’s pretty cool because it lets you experience the game from the perspective of just one player, instead of controlling the whole team. I figured I’d share my experience getting into it, for anyone else who might be curious.
So, first things first, I had to figure out how to actually start a game in Player Lock. I poked around the menus a bit, and it’s actually pretty straightforward. When I got to the main menu, I chose “Exhibition” games, there it is, right under the “Mode” options. “Player Lock” is right there. Click on that before you start the game. Easy peasy.
Once I got that sorted, I picked my team and then the player I wanted to control. I went with a outfielder, because I’ve been trying to improve my fielding. You can go for a pitcher, and try the pitching game, but I’m not much interested in that. Anyway, when the game started, I realized it’s a whole different ball game when you’re locked onto one guy.
For example, when my player wasn’t batting, I still had to pay attention to the game. I had to be ready to run the bases if my teammate got a hit. And on defense, it was all about anticipating where the ball was going to go. I had to quickly read the batter and try to get in position for the catch. I messed up a few times, missed a few fly balls, but I got the hang of it eventually. The game actually gives you a little indicator of where the ball is probably going to land, which is super helpful.
When it was my turn to bat, it felt like a normal at-bat in the game, except I didn’t have to worry about anyone else on the team. Just focus on hitting the ball and then running the bases. I managed to hit a couple of home runs, which felt awesome.
Here’s a breakdown of the steps I took, just to make it super clear:
- Boot up MLB The Show 23 and navigate to the main menu.
- Select “Exhibition” games.
- Find the “Mode” options and click on “Player Lock”.
- Choose your team and the player you want to control.
- Start the game and enjoy playing as that one player.
One thing I noticed is that playing Player Lock really helped me understand the nuances of each position. Like, when I was playing as a shortstop, I had to be super aware of where all the runners were and how many outs there were. I had to think fast and make quick decisions about where to throw the ball. It’s definitely made me a better overall player, even when I’m playing regular games controlling the whole team.
Playing in Player Lock mode is a fun change of pace. It makes you appreciate the game from a different angle, and it’s a great way to improve your skills in specific areas. If you’ve been playing MLB The Show 23, I definitely recommend giving it a shot!
